Process of producing light-colored, hard, infusible, and insoluble phenol-aldehyde products



Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1 ,710,045 PATENT OFFICE;

LEoNHAnn nmrrson AND ISAK 'rnonN, or VIENNA, AUSTRIA, ASSIGNOBS TO THESELDEN COMPANY, or PITTSBURGH, rENNsYLvANIA, A CORPORATION or DELA-WARE.

PROCESS OFI'RQDUCING LIGHT-COLORED, HARD, INFUSIBLE, AND INSOLUIBLEPHENOL-ALDEHYDE PRODUCTS.

No Drawing. Original application filed September 15, 1923, Serial No.662,997, and in Austria November 30, 1922. Divided and this applicationfiled March 2, 1928. Serial No. 258,685.

' oration of the products obtained. These impurities may be inorganicsuch as metal'salts, particularly'those of copper andiron, or organic;such as higher phenols, carbohydrates, sulfur compounds and the like.While it is possible to produce light colored products by usingperfectly pureraw products, such as for example freshly distilled orpreferably synthetic phenols and formaldehydes dissolved in distilledwater and avoiding apparatus presenting iron or copper surfaces to thereaction mixture or by Washing or extraction processes the resultingproducts are rendered very expensive as in the one case the cost ofthe-'raw=- materials is greatly increased and in the other case theyieldsare greatly decreased.

According to the present invention, We hare found that the undesirableimpurities causing the discoloration can be disintegrated by strongacids but are. substantiall unaffected in weak acid, neutral oralkaliiie solutions in the presence of oxidizing or reducing agents.Strong acids destroy,- the impurities but are unsuitable as they causefurther reaction with the condensationv products but we have found thatthere is' an exception to the ineffectiveness ofthe weak reagents for wehave found/that phosphoric acid compounds are capable of reacting withthe impurities causing discoloration so as to render them harmless.

The phosphoric acid compound may be added before initial condensation orafter initial condensation. It is preferable in order to assurecontinuous maintenance of'the light color to acidity the condensationproduct after clarification before final hardening,- The acidificationshould preferably take place with weak acids in such quantities as toprevent acceleration of the hardening by reason of the excess acidaction as a condensatlon agent.

Example 1.

1 kilogram of phenol and 1 kilogram of 40% formaldehyde solution of theusual commercial and technical grades are mixed with acid of 50% arethen added, the water is removed and the product hardened in knownmanner.

This application is a division of our' copending application Serial No.662,997, filed September 15, 1923.

' \Vhat is claimed as new is:

1. A process of producing light C0l,0I8(, hard, infusible, and insolublephenol-aldehyde condensation products, which comprises subjecting thereactive components to condensation with an alkali and hardening theproducts which have been subjected to treatment with a hygroscopiccompound containing the phosphoric acid radical before ha1'd-' ming, theamount and character of the phosphoric acid compound being such that the.mixture isnot sufficiently acid to bring about condensation underconditions of acid catalysis. i

-2. A process of producing light colored, hard, infusible, andinsoluble. phenol-aldehyde condensation products, which comprisessubjecting a phenol and an aqueous soluti on of an aldehyde tocondensation with an alkaline condensation agent, subsequently adding ahygroscopic compound containing a phosphoric acid radical, the amountand character of the phosphoric acid compbund being such that themixture is not sufi'iciently acid to bring about condensation underconditions of acid catalysis.

3. A process according to claim 1 in which the phosphoric acid compoundadded is an alkali metal phosphate. i

4. A process according to claim 1 in which 'the phosphoric acid compoundadded is asodium phosphate.

Signed at Vienna, Austria, this 13th day of February, 1928.

' DR. LEONHARD DEUTSCH.

ING. ISAK THORN.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION. Patent No; 1,710,045; v Granted A ril .23,1929, to j LEONIQIVARD DEUTSCH'ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as'follows: Line 94,ciaim 2, after 'the word "catalysis" and before the period insertthe'words "and then hardening byheat"; and that the said LettersPatent-should be read-with this correction therein that the same mayconform to the recordof the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day-of June, A. n. 1929.

- M. J. Moore, I (Seal) I Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CGRRLiiION.

Paient No. 1 71011455; Granted April 23, 1929, to

LEGNHARD DEUTSCH ET AL.

it is hereby sertified that @a'ror appfiars im the printed specification0f the abave numbered gatent requiring mrrestiua as faiiows; Line 9 1%,ciaim 2, aitei the ward "catalysis" and bafem the period insert Em WGZdS"and than hardening by heat"; and that tha said Letters Patent shsuld bewith this csrrectien therein that the same may wilfm'm t0 tha recard mcase in the Patent ()ffice.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of lame, A. i). 1929.

M. L Mwre, (Seal) Acting Gommfissioner of Patents.

